Chris Taylor: Nocturnal new CD available

Chris Taylor
Nocturnal




Chris Taylor (guitars, keyboards and programming); Steve Tavaglione (sax, woodwinds, ewi); Ric Fierabracci, Kevin Freeby, Gary Haase (bass); George Whitty, Scott Kinsey, John Findlay (keyboards) Gary Novak, Dave Weckl, Kirk Covington, Joel Rosenblatt, Tracey Kroll (drums); John Czajkowski (barritone guitar)

Press Release: Seemingly from out of nowhere, New York-based guitarist-composer Chris Taylor has emerged after nearly 30 years on the scene with a brilliant, fully-realized first album as a leader. And though it's been a long time in coming, Nocturnal may be the most auspicious debut of the year.
Reflecting the influences of such potent bands as Weather Report, Tribal Tech and the Zawinul Syndicate, as well as such guitaristic icons as John Scofield, Bill Frisell and Allan Holdsworth, Taylor's compelling album also stakes out strikingly original territory. From cinematic offerings like "Voices in my Head," the atmospheric "All of Us" and the dreamy soundscape "Recluse" to super-charged jams like "Ear to the Rail," "Know What I'm Saying," "Odd Hours" and the anthemic "Here to There," Nocturnal resonates with audacious energy and ideas. Taylor is ably supported on his maiden voyage by a stellar crew featuring drummers Gary Novak, Dave Weckl, Joel Rosenblatt and Kirk Covington, keyboardists George Whitty and Scott Kinsey, bassists Ric Fierabracci and Gary Haase, and saxophonist Steve Tavaglione.

It was back in 1981 that Taylor left the Berklee College of Music after three semesters to begin his professional career, and he's been gigging ever since. "Basically, I ran out of money," says Taylor of his brief stint at Berklee. "The plan was to go gig for a while, make some money and then go back to Berklee. I ended up gigging for 20 years or so and never got back to school. And since then I've done every gig imaginable."